Railway services have been suspended nationwide starting on Tuesday as the railway's running staff are beginning an indefinite strike demanding pension and gratuity with their mileage allowance, reports The Business Standard.
“Although Bangladesh Railway has accepted most of the demands of the running staff, they have not deviated from their pre-determined schedule. Therefore, disruptions in train operations may occur starting from 28 January,” reads a press release signed by Ministry of Railways' Public Relations Officer Rezaul Karim Siddiqui.
As per the release, Bangladesh Railway will refund the money for previously purchased tickets if journeys are cancelled.
Railway running staff include locomasters, assistant locomasters and sub-locomasters.
The running staff often complained that although they have an eight-hour working day, they have to work an average of 15-18 hours.
They used to get a special overtime allowance, known as the mileage allowance, in addition to their basic salary. This system offers 75 percent more than their pension based on the basic salary.
However, the Finance Ministry scrapped the mileage facility in a notification in November 2021, creating discontent among railway running staff.
In January 2022, following protests, the Finance Ministry reinstated salaries and allowances but excluded mileage benefits from pensions. The then minister yielded to demands in April 2023 and promised the issuance of a new notification.
However, the November 2021 notification has not been scrapped yet, causing pension issues.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
